JOHN Morgan is hoping that Blackburn’s blend of youth and experience will see his side finish the second half of the season on a high.

The Ramsgreave Drive club is finally finding its feet in North Lancs/Cumbria following relegation at the end of the last season.

A poor start to the current campaign didn’t help confidence as younger players took time to bed in against Blackburn’s more established first teamers.

But Blackburn, under Morgan’s guidance, have turned their fortunes around so much so they are currently on a run of four wins in the last five outings.

“Confidence plays a big part in this game and ours took a bit of a battering last season when we went down,” said Morgan.

“It wasn’t helped by our slow start to the season but the lads have been tremen-dous.

“We always knew it would be difficult because we had a lot of new players coming in, most of them young-sters.”

While it has been a real team effort, Morgan has special praise for scrum half and stalwart Paul Bleasdale.

“Bleasy has been terrific and is the real driving force in the team. With our captain Paul Millea out injured, he has led the team as well as helping out on the coaching side,” he said.

Morgan said youngsters Liam Oldham and Nick Rhodes are now showing their potential while the return of Jordan Pearson – on loan from Preston Grasshoppers until the end of the season – will boost the pack.

“Jordan has first team experience at Hoppers and he has already shown what he can do and it will get better and he gets used to the team.”

With three of the four tough trips to Cumbria out of the way, Morgan is hoping for a more fruitful second half of the season.

“We’re six wins and six defeats at the moment but hopefully the wins will far outweigh the defeats come the end of the season.

“We have played everyone so know what to expect and we don’t really fear anyone.”